Why exactly are census's secret for 100 years? Where are they stored?

[Paulo Leeds]

So can we not just go back on what this Arthur Thatcher said?

Also how long were the pre-1981 census's kept secret for if 100 years only came in in 1981...?

[Guy Etchells]

So can we not just go back on what this Arthur Thatcher said?

Also how long were the pre-1981 census's kept secret for if 100 years only came in in 1981...?

The Lord Chancellor's Instrument No. 12 of 1966 established the 100-year embargo rule.
Prior to that, the delay in making census records public had been much shorter.
For example, the 1841 and 1851 census records for England and Wales were both released in 1912.

Scottish records were also held for less than 100 years. The 1891 Scottish returns, for instance, were made public after a delay of only 64 years.

Given that the release of returns after 50 to 80 years was the practice in the first half of the last century and that the Lord Chancellor's Instrument No. 12 of 1966 was 55 years away at that point, I would be very surprised if anyone who participated in census before 1971 really believed that their return would be kept private for 100 years.

Only six out of the 15 pre-1910 England & Wales census have been closed for 100 years.
The details of nine out of 15 have been released after less than 90
years. (source Hansard 29 March 2004).

One final point and I cannot remember offhand when this was changed but up until I think the time of the Freedom of information Act (2000) it was possible to apply for details of occupants of a household in the next unreleased census for a fee of £10 The National Archives even published a booklet explaining how to do this, making even the 1966 100 year rule innefective.

Cheers
Guy

[Paulo Leeds]

Thanks for the info Guy.

So how would 'we' scrap what Arthur Thatcher said?

[coombs]

Proof that it is a total myth that prior to the 1981 census that the householders were promised the census info would remain closed and under lock and key for 100 years. Not true. As Guy said, the 1841 and 1851 censuses were released after 71 and 61 years respectively.

I was once told about 15 years ago (c2003) that I could access a certain household for the 1911 census if I paid vast amounts of money.

[Erato]

Data from censuses after 1940 are available on application to the U.S. Census Bureau but only to the individual named in the census record or his legitimate heir [proof required].  They charge you for the search, though, and it's expensive.  I doubt the information would be of much value for genealogical purposes since you can't get the entire household, just the one named individual.  Apparently, people mostly request census data to clarify questions of birthplace, residency and citizenship for social security benefits and such.

[U.S. census records are held for 72 years, not 75 as I previously said.  My mistake; I should have looked it up].

[louisa maud]

We cannot change it Paulo, we just have to be patient, not long now for the 1921 and I for one just cannot wait

Louisa Maud